Passengers with access to Star Alliance airport lounges could soon be keeping themselves entertained using a virtual reality headset provided by Inflight VR.

For 12 weeks from the end of October 2018 until the end of January 2019, Star Alliance will trial Inflight VR’s virtual reality entertainment solution in its Charles de Gaulle Terminal 1 and Rome Fiumicino airport lounges. If the trial is successful, Star Alliance will consider introducing the offering across more of its branded lounges in the future.

Six portable Pico Goblin headsets will be available in each lounge for passengers to use wherever they wish, offering viewers a range of short films, destination experiences, games and meditation content. “The diversity of our content makes it great entertainment for any passenger group – the feeling of being immersed in a whole new world which is created around the user is mind-blowing for them,” said Raphael Baumann, chief commercial officer, Inflight VR.

Baumann explained that on short-haul flights, the average usage time for Inflight VR’s system is around 55 minutes, which increases to 75 minutes on short- to mid-haul flights of around three hours. “We have experiences which are only 15 minutes, but also 45-50 minute short films as well as games which can last an hour or longer. It’s a good mix that fits to the average stay of lounge visitors, which is close to an hour,” he continued.

“This is a further demonstration of the versatility of our product, which can be similarly used in the air and on the ground.” – Moritz Engler, Inflight VR CEO

If Star Alliance wished to, there is the potential to introduce its own branded content on the platform, as well as to generate ancillary revenue opportunities through partnerships with a network of advertisers or vendor partners.

“We are very pleased to see Star Alliance interested in offering its guests the benefit of virtual reality in their lounges,” commented Inflight VR’s CEO, Moritz Engler. “This is a further demonstration of the versatility of our product, which can be similarly used in the air and on the ground.”

Iberia decided to test Inflight VR’s solution in the air following a trial of the technology in its Madrid airport lounge.